One proposed charter amendment was killed, a second barely squeaked through and two received unanimous endorsements recently, when the County Council took up six bills to consider putting on the Nov. 8 ballot.

County building codes and permitting processes top a priority list of six areas of local government the Cost of Government Commission plans to take a more in-depth look at.

Hawaii Island residents will no longer be able to redeem their HI-5 bottles and cans at three of the most popular transfer stations, and the continuation of redemption service at a fourth is uncertain, as contractors grapple with inflation, fuel price increases and a worker shortage stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Hawaii County will move forward with the purchase of two important West Hawaii natural and cultural sites, thanks to action last week by the County Council.

Mayor Mitch Roth has exercised the first veto of his term by rejecting a bill its sponsors say expands the number of eligible programs that could be implemented with county housing funds.

A bigger break in taxes for homeowners and kupuna is all but assured next year, following a unanimous committee vote Tuesday on a bill and assurances from the administration that it supports the measure.

The public said it wanted it, the administration said the county could afford it, but there will be no property tax relief this year, after the County Council on Wednesday couldn’t agree on either of two competing proposals.

A 2016 permit controversy over a North Kona rock-crushing operation is coming back to the Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday, remanded there by the Hawaii Supreme Court in a December ruling.

The proposed property tax breaks keep on coming. The latest one would increase exemptions for homeowners and kupuna.

The primary election is still months away, but incumbent Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas has already won reelection.

Incumbents will remain in one of the Big Island’s four state Senate seats and three of its eight state House seats, now that the June 7 filing deadline has passed with no challengers coming forward.

A Kona judge’s order overturning Hawaii County’s prohibition of short-term vacation rentals in the agricultural district could set a statewide precedent, the state Land Use Commission said Wednesday in unanimously agreeing to seek a ruling from the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

It’s hana hou for county property tax relief efforts next week as North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba gives it another shot.

More vacation rentals may be popping up on farmland, based on a recent ruling by a Kona judge.

There will be no tax breaks for Hawaii County property owners this year, after the County Council on Thursday shot down attempts by three council members to divvy up for property owners a budget windfall stemming from a booming economy that sent property values skyrocketing.

A bill requiring at least $5 million be budgeted annually for affordable housing projects passed the County Council on first reading Wednesday, despite some council members’ concerns that they don’t know how the money will be spent.

A County Council panel Tuesday took a dim view of a proposed charter amendment adding more Native Hawaiian input into county water policies, but four other proposals were forwarded to the council with positive recommendations.

An amendment proposed for the county charter would give Native Hawaiians a bigger voice in deciding water policy.

North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba wants the little guy to get more of a break on property taxes than proposed by Mayor Mitch Roth, and he’s brought forward a resolution to get the conversation started.